Fluid power transmitter



Nv. zo, 1945.

lL. E. LA BRIE FLUID POWER TRANSMITTER YFiled June 17, 1941 lilllw /0 INVENTOR l TTORNEY'S Patented Novi. 20, 1945 FLUID POWER TRANSMITTER' Ludger E. La Brie, Detroit, Mich., assigner tu Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a 'corporation of Delaware UNITED s'ra'rlazs4 'PATENT OFFICE Application June 17, 1941, Serial No. 398,455

7 Claims.

My invention'relates to uid driving devices such as fiuid couplings employedl to transmit drive through the medium of a vworking fluid.

An object of my invention is to provide a uid coupling with simplified and improved means Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevational View throughthe upper half portion of my coupling;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional plan view taken at l1ne 2-2 of Fig. l..

Fig. 3 is a view generally similar to Fig. 1 but showinga modification.

Fig, 4 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a further view generally similar to Figs. l to 3 but'showing another modification.

Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 a fluid coupling of` the variable fill type although my improvements are also applicable with resulting advantages to couplings of the fixed lill type in` which the fluid is subjected to a constant ll as in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 1 the driving shaft I0 has fixedthereto the welded assembly comprising the hemitoroidal impeller A and its shrouding II within which the companion hemi-toroidal runner B is disposed for driving the driven shaft I2 fixed to the runner, The impeller A carries a circumferential series of radial vanes I4 and similar vanes I5 are carried by runner B.

Where the coupling is operated with variable fluid ll to vary the slip some means is provided for controlling the quantity offiuid in the couypling.

In Fig. 1 fluid is introduced by supply pipe I6 under control of valve I'l whence the fluid reaches the coupling working chamber at vanes I4 and I5 by the system of' passages I8 and I9. The fluidv escapes from the coupling at one or more nozzles 20 into a chamber 2| provided by stationary. casing 22 having a, suitablel valvecontrolled escape (not shown) at the bottom of the casing. By regulating the amount of fiuid introduced to the coupling for a, given size of escape at 20 it will be apparent that any desired quantity of iiuid may be provided in the coupling, By closing valve II the coupling willy rapidly empty at nozzle 2li.v

It has been deemed necessary heretofore, especially with variable fill couplings, t0 PI'OVide a torus ring for the vanes I4 and I5 in order to minimize surge and vibration. With my coupling I provide the vanes I4 and I5 with a recess at 23 and 24 respectively such that a toroidal cham- -ber or space 25 is, in effect, defined around which the duid circulates in the spaces or vane passages bet-ween adjacent vanes of the impeller and runner as at 25'. However, this chamber 25 is freely directly open to the vane passages at points between the inner transfer zone 2B and the outer transfer zone 21.

The space 25 receives a non-active volume of fluid, minimizes surge and vibration and allows free circulation of the fluid without restriction as in the case of more conventional arrangements -Wherein torus rings are provided bounding the chamber 25. My arrangement is especially beneflcial in variable fill couplings especially when operating at relatively small fills and also permits elimination of the customary torus rings with resulting simplification and saving in cost.

I have also provided an improved baille arrangement at zone 26 comprising bame plates 28 secured to the terminal portions of vanes I5,

preferably'at each side of each vane, these plates projecting circumferentially from the associated vane into a vane passage 25. These baffles provide the desired restriction to fluid flow, especially at low speeds of impeller A, but do not fully cut-ofi" the iiuid flow at the vane termini thereby resulting in improved coupling efliciency, especially at relatively high coupling speeds and small Slips. At high slips the baiile plates serve to minimize drag and surge, and to provide smoother coupling opera-tion than in the case of more consame as in the Fig. 1 arrangement. The baille members 28 or 29 may be employed to advantage either with or without the novel chamber arrangement at 25 and in conjunction with either variable or xed illl couplings.

En Fig. 5 I have illustrated the coupling of Fig. 1 without provision for variable fill, this coupling being of the ilxed fill type. The Fig. 5 coupling is shown provided with the novel toroidal chamber 25, as in Figs. 1 and 3, although of slightly different shape.

In Figs. l, 3 and 5 the fluid circulates in the vortex circuit passages provided by the vanes of impeller A and runner B, the circuit having a smooth boundary except for the restriction introduced by the baille members 23 in Fig. l and 2Q in Fig. 3. lf desired, only one of the coupling members. may have its varies recessed as at 23 or thereby defining an annular chamber of substantially hem-toroidal shape at the central region of the vortex fluid circulation.

. l1 claim:

l. A iiuid coupling comprising a cooperating pair of rotatable substantially heini-toroidal driving and driven members each having a series of circumferentially spaced generally radially extending varies substantially normal to the plane l oi rotation of the members dening vane passages providing vortex fluid :dow between said members, the varies or" said members being recessed at the central region of the vortex and defining a coreless substantially toroidal iluid chamber coaxial, with said members at said region directly open to said vane passages substantially throughout the peripheral edges of said recesses.

21A uid coupling comprising a cooperating pair or rotatable substantially herrn-toroidal driving and driven members each having a series of circumferentially spaced generally radially extending vanes substantially normal to the plane oi. rotation of the members deilning vane pasn sages providing vortex 'luid flow between said members, the vanes of said members being recessed at the central region oi' the vortex and defining a coreless substantially toroidal iluld chamber coaxial with said members at said region directly open to said vane passages between adjacent venes of said members through'- out the extent of the peripheral edges of said recesses.

3. A fluid drive transmitter comprising a pair of cooperating rotatable members in fixed axial relationship to each other arranged face to face and conjointly dening a liquid working chamber each member having a series of circumferentially spaced generally radially extending vanes substantially normal to the plane of rotation of the members defining vane passages providing vortex fluid ow between said members, the vanes of said members being recessed at tne central region of the vortex and defining a. coreless substantially toroidal fluid chamber at said region co-,axial with said members having of circumferentially spaced generally radially extending vanes substantially normal tothe plane of rotation of said members, defining vane passages providing vortex iluid flow between said members, the vanes of said members being reeessed at the central region of the vortex thereby defining a coreless substantially toroidal fluid chamber coaxial with said members at said region directly open to said vane passages between adjacent vanes of said members throughout the extent of the peripheral edges of said recesses and means for varying the fluid ll of the cou-- pling at will during operation thereof.

5. A fluid coupling of the type having variable fill of the working fluid, comprising a pair of co operating rotatable members arranged face to race and conjointly defining a fluid working chamber, each member havingA a series of circumferentially spaced generally radially extending vanessubstantially normal to the plane oi rotation of the members dening vane passages providing vortex fluid flow between said memthe varies of said members being recessed at the central region of the vortex thereby defining a coreless substantially toroidal fluid chamber coaxial with said members at said reglon coaxial with said members having unobstructed access to said vane passages between adjacent vanes of said members.

6. A iluid coupling oi the type having a. variable flll of the Working fluid, comprising a coop erating pair of rotatable hemi-toroidal, rotatable driving and driven members conjointly defining a liquid working chamber, each member 3&5 having a series of circumferentlaliy spaced generally radially extending varies substantially normal to the plane of rotation of said members with adjacent vanes on each member defining passages between them for vortex liuicl flow bee@ tween said members, the vanes of both said members being recessed at the region of the vortex to define a coreless substantially toroidal liuld reservoir in said chamber coaxial with said members and having unobstructed access to said vane passages for receiving fluid during operation of the coupling, and means for varying the iluid lill or said working chamber during operation oi.' the coupling.

7. A uid coupling of the type having variable tlll of the working fluid, comprising a cooperating pair of rotatable hemi-toroidal, rotatable driving and driven members conjointly deflning a liquid working chamber, each member having a series of circumferentially spaced genorally radially extending vanes substantially normal to the plane of rotation of said members with adjacent vanes on each member defining passages between them for vortex fluid flow between said members, the vanes of both said members being recessed at the region of the vortex to define a coreless substantially toroidal fluid reservoir in said chambercoaxial with said members and having unobstructed access to said vane passages for receiving uid during `operation of the coupling, means for varying the fluid fill of said working chamber during operation of the coupling, including inlet and outlet passages and a casing surrounding said working chamber to receive liuid discharged from said outlet passage.

LUDGER E. LA BRIE. 

